Vice President Kamala Harris returned to Philadelphia on Monday evening to close out her presidential campaign in the city where she first introduced her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, back in August.
“It’s good to be back in the City of Brotherly Love… And here at these famous steps, a tribute to those who start as the underdog and climb to victory,” Harris declared at the opening of her address.
The event marked 107 days since her debut as the Democratic Party frontrunner after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. Election Eve was a busy day for the candidate as she traveled throughout the battleground state of Pennsylvania, rallying in Allentown in the early afternoon before taking to Pittsburgh and closing out her campaign in Philly in the late evening. Similarly, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spent the day jetting around the state to Reading and Pittsburgh after beginning his day in Raleigh, North Carolina. He concluded his campaign in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
According to CBS News White House Producer Sara Cook, a campaign official said there were approximately “30,000 people in attendance,” with a nearly one mile line stretching from Eakins Oval below the Philadelphia Museum of Art to Logan Square and back.
Invited speakers included Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker, Southwest Philly native and Speaker of the PA State House Joanna McClinton and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, who is running for reelection against Dave McCormick. Just a week prior, all three spoke at a rally with Former President Barack Obama at Temple University.
The Philly rally tuned in to other simultaneous Harris rallies across the U.S. on the stage screens, hearing from Gov. Walz in Milwaukee, American singer-songwriter Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock speaking from Spelman College in Atlanta.
“Your voice is your vote, and your vote is your power,” said Harris around 9:10 p.m., briefly appearing on the screens while speaking in Pittsburgh.
Janée Taft, Philly native and Regional Political Organizer with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said, “We need that ‘tush push’ to get us into the end zone,” referring to continuing get-out-the-vote work to elect Harris.
With alternating displays on the screens, the organizers of the event did not shy away from Philly references as “Fly Harris Fly,” lit up in blue and white.
The stage had been set up several days prior to the Get Out The Vote concert and rally with the vice president, featuring a backdrop of the iconic steps, at the top of which sat a large billboard sign, reading “A President for All,” placed equidistant between the flag of the United States and the flag of Philadelphia.
In light of invited speaker and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referring to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage” at a Madison Square Garden Trump rally on Oct. 27, New York rapper Fat Joe emphasized his Puerto Rican roots in his endorsement of the vice president.
“When they get up there and call Puerto Rico an island of garbage? Tell me how you really feel, huh? I did not find that to be a joke,” he said.
Walking directly to the piano on the right side of the stage around 11 p.m., Lady Gaga opened her set singing “God Bless America,” before introducing Doug Emhoff as “the soon-to-be first First Gentleman.”
Husband to Vice President Harris, Emhoff has been campaigning alongside his wife since her campaign began.
“Here we are. Over these 15 weeks, America has gotten to know, admire and trust the Kamala that I love,” Emhoff said to the crowd, “My wife cares about what you’re going through.”
After introducing Oprah Winfrey, she walked on stage with 10 first-time voters including Edward Davis III, an 18-year-old forward with Philadelphia Union II.
Appearing to walk off stage, Oprah then embraced Harris in a hug, raising their hands together in the air as she escorted the vice president to the podium.
The star-studded evening included a performance by The Roots in addition to Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and a surprise appearance by will.i.am who released a new song in his endorsement of Vice President Harris titled, “Yes She Can.”
Despite taking the stage over one hour later than originally anticipated, Harris turned to the thousands standing before her, saying, “This could be one of the closest races in history. Every single vote matters.”
Encouraging the individuals in the audience to reach out to everyone they know, Harris said, “You will decide the outcome of this election, Pennsylvania…Because you see, I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy, I will give them a seat at the table. That’s what real leaders do, that’s what strong leaders do.”
After Harris closed her remarks, people began leaving before Lady Gaga was welcomed back on stage to sing, “The Edge of Glory,” and the crowd quickly rushed back and cheered.
“As long as we have each other, we’re going to be alright,” Gaga said as she waved goodbye to the crowd.
At time of writing, the presidential election has been called in PA by the Associated Press. The results have shown to be close in all the major swing states, but the PA presidential race has been called for Donald Trump. The Associated Press projects that Donald Trump is president-elect based on the results of PA.